About Me

Hey! I’m Xaia.

I’m finishing up my final year of high school and I knew that going down the traditional path of college didn’t fit who I am. But...I wasn't sure where to go from there.

However, in July 2024, something happened.

Our dog, Jino; whom we’ve cooked rotisserie chicken, sweet potatoes and plenty more delicious meals for; whom we've walked with on all the land a dog could dream of and to many restaurants; whom would lay in the corner of my room and smile while napping; passed away. It felt like we’d suddenly lost a part of ourselves. But…I wanted to help my family grieve better, and so I drew him from my heart. I wanted to capture his twinkling eyes and his adorable smile as I knew him. And wow…I couldn’t have foreseen how much it would help us. We all felt his strong spirit and his giant heart through the drawing like we couldn’t through photos alone.

However, besides drawing pets, I do other things in my free time.

From cooking new meals like delish chicken thighs, making fresh fruit salads and colorful side dishes like pico de gallo; to playing with our machito little terrier Jerry; to more drawing on personal projects! I do enjoy my craft, but I enjoy it even more when it puts true smiles on the faces of others.

I knew then that I had to use this wonderful skill to help others too.

That’s how “All Pets in Pencil” was born. I know how hard this time is. I’ve been there. But I want to help you no longer feel so lonely. I am dedicated to helping you and many, many others with this gift. I touch the pets’ hearts, so that in turn I can touch yours and help you both reconnect. That’s how I want to help the world.

Digital, Physical, AI...

With the rise of AI artworks, it's harder and harder to distinguish real art from AI art. I know. As an artist, even I at times get fooled if I don't look deep enough into a piece of art.

But I fully, 100% hand draw all of my works. From start to finish. Yes, even my digital works. AI steals the works of artists and mashes it into an output - but here, I do no stealing. Ever since I've been a wee kid, I've drawn with my right hand. I won't let a computer replace this part of me.

However, I like drawing digitally because it gives me certain freedoms that drawing on paper doesn't. I can change backgrounds easily, I can move strokes around and go undo unlucky brushwork with the tap of my fingers, I can carry my Ipad anywhere with me and, my favorite part, is that I can watch the timelapse again and again. It amazes me to watch my own thought process that goes into producing the piece of art that will end up on your screen.

But, this does not mean that I want to give up drawing on paper. Even if I have a paper-like screen cover on my Ipad, nothing can replace the feeling of pencil on paper for me.